CLERMONT-FERRAND, France, March 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Quantel Medical today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) market clearance of the Vitra Multispot™ laser. The product was developed by Quantel Medical to give access to advanced pattern-scanning technology to ophthalmology practices worldwide though intelligent design.

"Ophthalmologists now can choose a laser that is designed specifically to help them respond to the burgeoning diabetes epidemic," stated Mr. Jean-Marc Gendre, CEO of Quantel Medical. "Efficient and less-painful pattern-scanning delivery of laser to treat diabetic eye disease is no longer reserved for the elite treatment centers."

The Vitra Multispot combines advanced pattern scanning and solid-state green laser technologies in a compact portable platform. This intelligent design delivers a cost-effective solution to ophthalmologists around the world dealing with epidemic levels of diabetic eye disease in their patient populations, including ophthalmologists in U.S. managing current and future eye disease among the estimated 8.5 million Americans diagnosed with diabetes and an estimated 79 million Americans categorized as pre-diabetic by the American Diabetes Association.

Rama D. Jager, MD, MBA, FACS of University Retina, Oak Forest, Illinois, was the first user of the Vitra Multispot in the U.S. Dr. Jager commented, "The Vitra Multispot has accelerated our capability to manage the growing number of diabetic patients coming to our practice for care and improved our reputation for superior patient care since the pattern-scanning laser treatment with the Vitra Multispot is less painful compared to the previous treatments many patients received with a conventional laser."

The introduction of the Vitra Multispot follows a long history of first-to-market introductions for Quantel Medical. Quantel was the first company to develop and introduce a solid-state green photocoagulator in 1993, followed by the first solid-state yellow photocoagulator in 1998 for ophthalmic treatments. The Vitra Multispot completes Quantel's comprehensive line of photocoagulators, ranging from the Vitra™ 532nm mono-spot system to the SupraScan™ 577nm multi-spot platform.

About Quantel Medical

Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand, France, Quantel Medical is a global ophthalmic medical device company dedicated to developing leading technologies to improve the treatment of ocular diseases. Quantel Medical has a strong emphasis in research and development, resulting in many first-to-market product introductions, and a comprehensive product portfolio of diagnostic ultrasound and surgical lasers for ophthalmologists. The products are available through direct sales operations in the U.S. and France, and through independent distributors in over 80 countries.

Quantel Medical is a division of Quantel (QUA:EN), a world-wide leader in the development of solid-state lasers for scientific and industrial applications.